Borel circle squaring

Abstract

We give a completely constructive solution to Tarski’s circle squaring problem. More generally, we prove a Borel version of an equidecomposition theorem due to Laczkovich. If $k \geq 1$ and $A, B \subset \mathbb{R}^k$ are bounded Borel sets with the same positive Lebesgue measure whose boundaries have upper Minkowski dimension less than $k$, then $A$ and $B$ are equidecomposable by translations using Borel pieces. This answers a question of Wagon. Our proof uses ideas from the study of flows in graphs, and a recent result of Gao, Jackson, Krohne, and Seward on special types of witnesses to the hyperfiniteness of free Borel actions of $\mathbb{Z}^d$.

Authors

Andrew S. Marks

University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

Spencer T. Unger

University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA